"Who would've thought that Curse Spirit could use Domain Expansion...?" Ren muttered, brushing blood from Maki Zen'in's cheek as he activated the Reversed Cursed Technique. A gentle, pale-blue glow radiated from his hand, mending her shallow wounds before they could scar.
Scars didn't suit her. Not on skin that resilient.
"To prevent something like that from happening again, you need to learn the New Shadow Style's Simple Domain. It's the best countermeasure we've got. That way, even if you run into someone who can use a Domain, you won't be helpless."
Maki blinked in surprise. "Simple Domain? It can resist a Domain Expansion?"
Ren let out a sigh and rubbed his forehead in exasperation. "How is this not common knowledge? What's Gojo-sensei teaching you guys?"
Maki's face stiffened slightly. She was already near the end of her first year at Jujutsu High and would be starting her second soon—but until today, she hadn't even heard about the defensive application of Simple Domains.
Ren straightened, expression firm. If no one else would teach her, then he would.
"Listen carefully," he began, taking on the patient tone of an older mentor. "Domain Expansion is when a sorcerer constructs a closed space—a manifestation of their innate technique—by infusing their cursed energy with a specific imprint. There are open and closed types, but both share a trait: within that space, the user's technique is guaranteed to hit."
"That's... insane," Maki muttered.
"It is," Ren nodded. "And if you don't have a Domain of your own to counter it, you're essentially walking into a kill box."
"Then I really didn't stand a chance…"
"To override a Domain," Ren continued, "you need to expand your own. But that's the pinnacle of Jujutsu—it's not something most sorcerers can do. That's where the New Shadow Style comes in."
He tapped her forehead gently with a finger.
"Simple Domain is a minimalistic barrier technique. You form a compressed domain around yourself that nullifies the 'guaranteed hit' effect of a hostile Domain. Think of it like erecting a small sphere of equilibrium within chaos."
Maki's eyes lit up with understanding. "Wait... if I can use magic to construct a Curtain, can I do the same to cast a Simple Domain?"
Ren grinned. "Exactly. You've already used Magic to form a bounded field. Replacing cursed energy with magical energy doesn't hinder the casting of most Jujutsu techniques. The only major exception is Reversed Cursed Technique—you need actual cursed energy for that, since it works by inverting negative energy into a positive force for healing."
Maki clenched her fists, filled with newfound resolve. "Once we're back, I'm learning Simple Domain. Next time I meet something like that... I'll be ready."
Ren didn't say anything. He just smiled.
They returned to the parked car near the outskirts of Kanagawa Prefecture and began the quiet drive back to Tokyo. The sky was painted a sleepy violet, fading into navy, and the hum of tires on the asphalt lulled Maki into a quiet slumber. She dozed off against Ren's shoulder without a word.
Ren gazed out the window, but his thoughts were turbulent beneath his calm exterior.
The combat test had been a success.
The Usurpation Circle and the Dark Christmas Feast ritual had performed beyond expectations. He no longer needed to rely on his Rimuru-based integration framework to devour abilities. With those tools, he could now extract techniques directly, converting cursed energy or spiritual residue into divine-grade skillsets.
Granted, most Jujutsu techniques in this world—while practical—lacked variety. The standout exceptions were rare gifts: Innate Techniques and Innate Domains. But those were just the appetizers.
His true arsenal was forged across dimensions.
Ren's Stargate had recently mapped a new world—and it was always working, scanning planes of existence using fragments of his own memory.
Suddenly, a familiar chime echoed in his mind:
[Ding. New dimensional coordinates secured.]
Ren blinked, then smirked. "Another one already? This Stargate is too efficient."
[Identified dimensional framework based on host memory. Target world: DanMachi – Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?]
His eyes widened. "Dungeon World, huh...?"
That was big.
A realm where Gods walked among mortals, forming Familia, blessing adventurers with power, and guiding them through the massive, monster-infested Labyrinth City of Orario.
If he could reverse-engineer the system behind Falna, the blessing of the gods, he could create his own Divine Familia—a spiritual contract network powered by his hybrid energy systems.
Maki Zen'in. His sister Aki. Miko Yotsuya. Utahime. Hiratsuka-sensei. Even Dairenji Suzuka...
One by one, he would bring them into his Familia—not as followers, but as chosen vanguards.
After all, in the Dungeon World, even those without talent could rise through the floor rankings and become monsters in combat through relentless effort.
With the power systems he could bring from other dimensions, they wouldn't just survive—they'd dominate.
...
An hour later, the car rolled through the glowing streets of Tokyo and eased into Chiba City.
Ren gently nudged the sleeping Maki. "We're home," he whispered.
She stirred with a reluctant groan, then frowned. "So soon? I wanted to lean on you a little longer…"
Ren raised an eyebrow, smirking. "We sleep in the same bed every night, Maki. Still not enough?"
A blush crept across her face, but she didn't avert her eyes. "Not even close."
The driver coughed loudly. "Hey, hey! You two lovebirds, mind saving that for after you get out? This lonely uncle still has to work!"
Laughing, Ren and Maki climbed out of the car, paid the fare, and walked back to the villa hand in hand.
Inside, Dairenji Suzuka was already in the middle of a lesson, teaching Onmyōdō basics to the younger members. Spiritual seals and hand movements flowed fluidly as she guided Yotsuya Miko, Yurikawa Hana, and Futatsumura Yuria through the early stages of spiritual energy control.
Yotsuya Miko showed surprising promise. She had already learned to absorb spiritual energy and was experimenting with Shikigami summoning using paper talismans.
More importantly, within Miko resided a never-before-seen Innate Technique—the Heavenly Sight Eye. Its full potential was still unknown, but Ren could feel its dormant power pulsing whenever she activated her spiritual sense.
Yurikawa Hana, on the other hand, had no aptitude for Onmyōdō, but she was a natural-born Jujutsu Sorcerer. Her Innate Technique, Life Conversion, allowed her to exchange physical health for explosive cursed energy output—a dangerous but powerful trade-off.
Then there was Yuria. Though she lacked any known Innate Technique and couldn't become a Jujutsu sorcerer, her spiritual affinity was extraordinary. She absorbed energy faster than even Miko and could master beginner Onmyōdō spells almost immediately.
Watching them train, Ren crossed his arms and smiled quietly.
Miko is a dual-talent, Hana's a Jujutsu prodigy, and Yuria's an Onmyōdō genius…
He couldn't have asked for a more balanced team.
"I've really hit the jackpot," he murmured.